What do you make of this seller?

rhedden · August 16, 2004 6:27AM

Here is a "new" seller on ebay. He has listed some fantastic numismatic material for sale, allegedly from his father's store. With no pictures, of course. I'm not 100% sure this is a scam, but I wouldn't spend a dollar to find out, either.

items for sale by newbie seller

What do you think- scam or not?

earlwbollinger · August 16, 2004 6:34AM

Beats me.
It doesn't seem to look like a scam, but with no history I know nothing at all about the seller.
It is odd he is selling game cards and coins though.
But then a coin shop might be a card shop too.

Russ · August 16, 2004 6:38AM

I sent him an eMail:

<< I have been on ebay before years ago with 250 positive feedback and no neg" ... What is the eBay account that has this feedback? The one you are using has zero. >>

I also sent an eMail asking for a PCGS cert number. We'll see what he comes back with.

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 6:40AM

Registered four days ago, 677 high dollar items for sale without pictures. Scam all the way. The bad thing is it looks like a lot of people are going to get burnt.

ziggy29 · August 16, 2004 6:40AM

Ask him to call grandma and have her get the cert numbers off the slabbed coins.

rhedden · August 16, 2004 6:42AM

There is an outside chance it is a younger person selling his grandpa's stuff on ebay, and he has no idea that he is selling high priced coins, or that he will get 10% of their value if he sells them this way. In this case, someone had better tell him to get decent pictures or else get them off there. However, I am almost certain that this is yet another scam.

Russ · August 16, 2004 6:48AM

I think the fact that they are all three day auctions ending very close to the same time is another tell. Get in and get out quick before eBay catches it.

<< I do not know much of anything about coins >>

<< 1932 s PCGS MS64 Colorful key date Washington 25c >>

I guess that must be written on his "inventory sheet".

Russ, NCNE

Datentype · August 16, 2004 6:49AM

I have personally been ripped off twice by guys like this. I'm not saying that he's a fraud but i have been bit twice and one must be very careful.

BigD5 · August 16, 2004 6:50AM

That's an easy call for me......no bids.

I find it hard to imagine the store's inventory with slabbed material like that, ready for resale.

The whole thing just seems to "odd".

I was thinking the same thing Russ, with the cert #'s, but guaranteed that's some of the information that he conveniently won't have access to.

Good luck to the bargain hunters........

CoinHunter2003 · August 16, 2004 6:57AM

I have a verrrrry bad feeling about this!

Datentype · August 16, 2004 6:57AM

What if I win everything and go down and pay for these in person with cash and it's for real?

100proof1957 · August 16, 2004 6:57AM

looks and sounds like Central European Scammer ,maybe russian
total BS

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 6:58AM

I put in a bid on one of his auctions and pulled the contact info. The number he has registered comes back to another name, and the phone just rings and rings.

jbsteven · August 16, 2004 6:58AM

too many high dollar items. scam

Wekar · August 16, 2004 7:00AM

Let's see if ebay id scumnuker(0) makes an appearance on these. Gone for last 2 days of auction, gone for 1 day after auction, claimed 250 feedback on another acct, no pics, 'inventory sale' of dead grandfather, way way too much to believe. There's just no way this is real. C'mon scumnuker find this guy.

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 7:05AM

<< Let's see if ebay id scumnuker(0) makes an appearance on these. Gone for last 2 days of auction, gone for 1 day after auction, claimed 250 feedback on another acct, no pics, 'inventory sale' of dead grandfather, way way too much to believe. There's just no way this is real. C'mon scumnuker find this guy. >>

You left out this part:

There are no picture's because all item's are at my grandmother's.About 700 miles away.

ziggy29 · August 16, 2004 7:10AM

And just when I thought my early Lincoln collection was almost done, now I discover there is a new one to collect:

Behold the 1909-S UDB.

Bikingnut · August 16, 2004 7:10AM

Here's a link to the auction for the colorful key date Washington that was sold by great toning just last night. The title is exactly the same. I knew I had seen it before because I was following last nights Washington.

last nights auction.

Scam all the way. Who has the fraud link to ebay?

jbsteven · August 16, 2004 7:12AM

he has a Half in ms62 with a Childs pedigree. Seems like one of those was sold recently.

I smell a rat.

here is his title

1857 50c NGC MS62 Ex. Childs

Russ · August 16, 2004 7:16AM

I've reported him with the following:

<< The seller "rarecoinmtg" just registered and has hundreds of very valuable items listed all in three day auctions. He is unable to provide images or certification numbers for the graded coins. This is clearly a con artist and many people are going to get burned if you don't shut him down. >>

<< Who has the fraud link to ebay? >>

Click here and go to the bottom.

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 7:21AM

I sure wish I could get a hold of someone at the number he provided. If it turns out to be a bogus phone number, they will shut him down quickly.

jbsteven · August 16, 2004 7:21AM

I sent a email asking about if he took Paypal or what his return policy was and here is his response.

Dear Sir or Mam ,
I personally am in Morgantown,Wv. The coins and cards are in MS at my grandmother's.As you read my grandfather passed on and she needs to sell all he had.They gave me a list of Quantity ,Description, and condition.I'm taking care of the ebay work and her and my cousin are taking care of shipping.Shipping is free ,because she wants everything taken care of her way .All packages will be insured.She doesn't want any pick ups.I do have one question for you.As i do not know anything about coins ,Around how much are these worth?Thank you ,
James
P.S. All monies will be refunded if buyer is unhappy in any way.Monies will be returned when items are returned .Money order and checks only.

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 7:25AM

Well, that does it. He is there to answer an email but no answer at the phone number he provided? I'm going to report this guy for invalid contact information.

100proof1957 · August 16, 2004 7:28AM

reported him to EBAY

granddad · August 16, 2004 7:30AM

My favorite part of the listing is "I WILL NOT EXCEPT OUT OF AUCTION OFFERS BECAUSE OF LEGAL ISSUES."
A real Einstein!

Louis

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 7:32AM

My report to eBay:

I bid on item #xxxxxxxxxx by this seller. After I placed my bid, I noticed that this seller listed 677 items, most of which are fairly expensive, all three day auctions. I requested his contact information, and attempted to call him. The phone just rings with no answer. I did a reverse lookup of the phone number, and it comes back to a totally different person.

I suspect that this may be a fraud. Please act and confirm this is a legitimate user.

Russ · August 16, 2004 7:34AM

<< He is there to answer an email but no answer at the phone number he provided? >>

Apparently only certain eMail. I've gotten no response to mine asking what his previous eBay ID was, or my query about a PCGS cert number.

Russ, NCNE

Bikingnut · August 16, 2004 7:40AM

Not responsible for loss in shipping.Please insure

A quote from one of the auctions.

Shipping is free ,because she wants everything taken care of her way .All packages will be insured.

A quote from the reply to jbsteven.

Shipping should be free as there is probably nothing to ship!

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 7:51AM

<< 

<< He is there to answer an email but no answer at the phone number he provided? >>

Apparently only certain eMail. I've gotten no response to mine asking what his previous eBay ID was, or my query about a PCGS cert number.

Russ, NCNE >>

Well Russ, that's probably because he has no answers for your questions! Let's see if eBay is really serious about putting a stop to coin frauds. The ICI alone will be enough to boot him if they act in time.

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 7:52AM

I was just thinking - JB write him back and tell him to have his grandmother ship the coins to him, and you will pick them up from him. Let's see what he has to say to that proposition.

jbsteven · August 16, 2004 8:26AM

Eric

I sent him a different email. Let's see how/if he responds. I will keep you guys posted.

Datentype · August 16, 2004 8:42AM

I got the same canned response that JBSTEVEN got on both of my eamils to him. This is very obviously a scam. Don't bid. Ebay will likely not shut him down unless they find the phone number does not exist or there is some invalid info. Chances are Ebay will do nothing from past experiences with people trying to sell 1990 no s proof sets with mint state pennies instead of proof no s. they just sat back and watched and collected their piece.

Bikingnut · August 16, 2004 11:04AM

I just received a warning from ebay for posting a reference to the supect auctions on their chat page. I didn't even provide the sellers name, just an item number.

Russ · August 16, 2004 11:07AM

eBay warns people for trying to warn people?

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · August 16, 2004 11:14AM

<< eBay warns people for trying to warn people? >>

Yes, and if you do it twice they will NARU you. You are not allowed to post auctions on their board unless you are the bidder or seller. That's why I don't post there except when I find a blowhard running his mouth off about me.

ScarsdaleCoin · August 16, 2004 11:58AM

the worst is that the people trying to help will get warned by ebay to not get involved....hope someone shuts him down and that no one gets hurt....I would say this is 100% scam I am...

stujoe · August 16, 2004 1:20PM

<< eBay warns people for trying to warn people?

Russ, NCNE >>

As K6AZ said, I have seen people get their Ebay accounts NARU for posting there. I am a big online forum supporter but I would avoid the Ebay forums like the plague.

Yousri · August 16, 2004 1:57PM

No mwttwer what, any one registered with ebay few days ago and list all these wonderfull coins, has to be Scam all the way.
Any person that needs to sell his Grandfather store inventory ussually consult an expert in the item he is selling, Common sense says get the advise of an expert in the items you sell so you get the fair market price for them, but he didnot.
SCAM in my opinion.
Thanks

catfish172 · August 16, 2004 2:01PM

If he is from WV, How come he types like he is Ukranian with a little english translator?

oreville · August 16, 2004 2:26PM

catfish: Or he sound verrrry young?

Just a question fo all:

Does the ebay/paypal buying insurance (or whatever they call it) an option for situations such as this where there is a real concern the item being sold does not even exist?

Bikingnut · August 17, 2004 2:55AM

I wonder what would happen if all the winning bidders paid by Paypal and then bought the Paypal insurance? Do you think Paypal and ebay would wake up when they ended up paying for this scammers auctions?

Baley · August 17, 2004 2:57AM

What do you make of this seller?

Well, I can make a hat, a broach, a pterydactyl...

Conder101 · August 17, 2004 3:13AM

<< I wonder what would happen if all the winning bidders payed by Paypal and then bought the Paypal insurance? Do you think Paypal and ebay would wake up when they ended up paying for this scammers auctions? >>

He only accepts checks and money orders. No Paypal.

Russ · August 17, 2004 3:17AM

Even if he accepted PayPal, the maximum buyer protection is far less than the value of the coins he's selling.

Russ, NCNE

FullStrike · August 17, 2004 5:06AM

Detroit News Story

Here's the Detroit News story on Stewart Richardson, the SOB that ran a scam that I got caught up in. I collect Lladro Figurines ( 3D art ) and Of my 5 or 6 bids I was unlucky enough to have won one. Or perhaps I should say I was lucky to have only won one.

Anyway I sent the bum approx. $245.00, after 8 months eBay sent me $175. Believe me - it's easier to avoid fishy eBay stuff than to sweat out the partial reimbursements.

This guy Stewart Richardson was very slick. Unfortunately he ain't the only scammer out there. Matter of fact this coin guy might just be him comming up briefly for some air.

My thanks to Barb of " Wee Forest Folk Collectors' Club Message Board " for digging up that article for me.

shmort6552 · August 17, 2004 6:39AM

I didn't check every page of his auctions but there are bids on ALL of the items. Some are in the higher end category. Buying higher dollar items sight unseen................

HTubbs · August 17, 2004 6:51AM

Scammer duhhhh

UncleWiggly · August 17, 2004 7:03AM

All I know to say, is I'm glad I'm a member here.

Jerry

nccoin · August 17, 2004 1:54PM

Looks like the seller ended all of the listings early. A few hundred emails and maybe a little pressure from Ebay did the trick.

Coppernicus · August 17, 2004 1:58PM

I see his auctions still up! Link in first post gets them.

Mike

K6AZ · August 17, 2004 2:02PM

Yes they are. Shows you how concerned eBay is about fraud.

What do you make of this seller?

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